M. Sauer, I. Padeanu, N. Dragomir, E. Ilisiu, G. Rahmann, W.-I. Sauer, S.-O. Voia, D. Gavojdian · Landbauforsch · Appl Agric Forestry Res · 1 2015 (65)59-64 59 DOI: 10.3220/LBF1439881037000
Organic goat meat production in less favoured areas of Romania
Maria Sauer*, Ioan Padeanu**, Neculai Dragomir**, Elena Ilisiu***, Gerold Rahmann****, Walter-Ioan Sauer*, Sorin-Octavian Voia**, and Dinu Gavojdian*
Abstract Zusammenfassung
More than 1.2 million goats are currently being reared in Ökologische Ziegenfleischproduktion in Romania today, with the numbers rapidly increasing. Moreo- benachteiligten Regionen in Rumänien ver, the country holds 4.9 million hectares of pastures, mostly situated in regions listed as less favoured areas (LFA’s). A com- parative study showing production performances of two In Rumänien werden mehr als 1,2 Millionen Ziegen gehalten, pasture types (organic vs. conventional), and of two kids Tendenz steigend. Weiterhin gibt es rund 4,9 Millionen Hektar genotypes (Carpatina vs. F1 Boer x Carpatina) was implemen- Weideland, das meiste liegt in benachteiligten Regionen. Es ted. The annual pasture yields were 26.4 t/ha (5.3 t/ha/a DM) wurde eine vergleichende Studie auf zwei unterschiedlichen in the conventional pasture and of 30.6 t/ha (6.1 t/ha/a DM) Weidequalitäten (ökologisch und konventionell) mit zwei in the organic managed pasture, respectively. The average unterschiedlichen Genotypen (reinrassige lokal verbreitete carrying capacity was 1.89 livestock units (LU; one LU is equal Doppelnutzungsrasse der Karpatenziege sowie ein Kreuzung to 500 kg liveweigth) for the conventional pasture, and 2.18 dieser Rasse mit der Fleisch betonten Burenziege) durchge- LU for the organic pasture, respectively. The conventional führt. Die Tragfähigkeit wurde mit 1,89 Grossvieheinheiten pasture had an estimated potential of production ranging (GV; eine GV entspricht 500 kg Lebendmasse) für die konven- from 114 to 163 kg of kid meat/ha, while the estimated pro- tionellen Flächen und 2,18 GV festgestellt. Pro Hektar konnten duction for the organic pasture was between 149 and 252 kg auf den konventionellen Flächen zwischen 114 und 163 kg of kid meat/ha. Result have proved to be encouraging regar- und auf den ökologischen Flächen 149 bis 252 kg Ziegen- ding the potential of the LFA’s in Romania to produce goat fleisch pro Jahr produziert werden. Die Kreuzungslämmer meat under organic rearing systems with purebreed gene- erreichen mit rund 154 g fast 40 Gramm höhere Tageszunahme tics. Of the technical solutions identified, those regarding als die reinrassigen Karpaten-Ziegenlämmer (117 g/d). Damit pasture management could be applicable to current com- zeigte sich, dass es ökonomisch sinnvoll ist, die Flächen ökolo- mercial farming practices in order to improve goat farming gisch zertifiziert mit Kreuzungsziegenlämmern zu nutzen, profitability while at the same time tackling socio-ecological wenn es einen Markt für Prämiumqualitäten (Öko-Zertifkat) issues such as nature conservation and animal welfare. gibt. Damit wird nicht nur die Wirtschaftlichkeit sondern auch der Umweltschutz und das Tierwohl verbessert. Keywords: goat meat, organic production, Romania, extensive grazing systems, crossbreeding, Boer goats, Carpatina goats Schlüsselwörter: Ziegenfleisch, Ökologischer Landbau, Rumä- nien, extensive Weidewirtschaft, Kreuzungszucht, Burenziege, Karpatenziege
* Romanian Academy for Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Research and Development, Station for Sheep and Goats Caransebes, Resitei Street, 325400 Caransebes, Caras-Severin County, Romania ** Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine ‘King Michael I of Romania’, Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnologies, 119 Aradului Street, 300645 Timisoara, Timis County, Romania *** Romanian Academy for Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Research and Development, Station for Sheep and Goats Reghin, 11 Dedradului Street, 545300 Reghin, Mures County, Romania **** Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Institute of Organic Farming, Trenthorst 32, 23847 Westerau, Germany
Contact: [email protected] M. Sauer, I. Padeanu, N. Dragomir, E. Ilisiu, G. Rahmann, W.-I. Sauer, S.-O. Voia, D. Gavojdian · Landbauforsch · Appl Agric
60 Forestry Res · 1 2015 (65)59-64
1 Introduction schemes such as PDO (protected designation of origin), PGI (protected geographical indication) and TSG (traditional spe- The organic farming sector in the EU has been rapidly deve- ciality guaranteed), having in mind that the government and loping during the past decades. In 2011 a total area of the EU are subsidizing up to 50 % the market-placement acti- 9.6 million ha were cultivated as organic, compared to 5.7 vities of such products, starting 2012 according to Council million ha in 2002 (Eurostat, 2014). During the last decade, Regulation EC 3/2008 and translating national law and regu- organic area in the EU improved by about 500,000 ha per lation in place. Thus, traditional products such as the goat year, with the whole organic area representing 5.4 % of total meat ‚virşli’ sausages, could be promoted and protected, utilized agricultural area in Europe (DG-AGRI, 2013). bringing added value into the sector, and creating premises The organic goat sector within the EU accounts for 0.4 for further development. million heads, concentrated geographically in Greece (4.1 % However, the low purchasing power of the local con- of goats reared in Greece) and Italy (7.5 % of the national sumers and the consideration of the general public that the flock), with the farmers essentially focused on organic small ruminants production systems are environmental- and cheeses production (DG-AGRI, 2013). animal-friendly, are the two main constraints for the future In Eastern and Southern Europe, the majority (over 85 %) development of the organic goat meat production in Romania of the sheep and goats flocks are being reared in mountai- in particularly, and Eastern and Southern Europe in general. nous and disadvantageous areas, called Less Favoured Areas Starting year 2011, the Research and Development Sta- (LFAs) as defined in Dir.75/268/EEC, having an important eco- tion for Sheep and Goats from Caransebes of the Romanian nomic, social and ecological role, and also contributing to Academy for Agricultural and Forestry Sciences began imple- the conservation of the environment (Sossidou et al., 2013). menting a research programme on organic sheep and goats Currently, Romania has a national flock of 9.5 million farming. The main objective of the project was to explore sheep and 1.2 million goats (MADR, 2014), with numbers and identify technical solutions to the specific constraints of increasing by 5 to 8 % each year for both species in the last 5 organic sheep and goats farming linked to reproduction per- years. Moreover, the country has a pasture surface of 4.9 formances, feeding strategies and management, animal millions ha, which could sustain a flock of up to 16 million health and welfare. sheep and goats (Dragomir, 2009). Sheep and goats are The aim of the current research was to evaluate the tech- being reared in Romania almost exclusively under extensive nical efficiency and viability of introducing the organic goat low-input production systems, with the breed structure meat production in less favoured areas of Romania. being dominated by indigenous rustic breeds, such as the Turcana (52.4 %) and Tsigai (24.3 %) in sheep (Ilisiu et al., 2013) and Carpatina (over 80 %) in goats (Pascal et al., 2011). 2 Materials and methods With the goat production being orientated primarily towards the milk production, while the kid meat is regarded as a mar- 2.1 Location and animals ginal product. The Carpatina goat is regarded as low perfor- The trial was initiated starting autumn 2013 at the Research ming, however the breed has a remarkable organic resis- and Development Station for Sheep and Goats from tance and adaptation. Reports concerning performance of Caransebes (45°25’N/22°13’E). Caransebes region has a typical Carpatina breed have shown modest production levels, with Central European humid continental climate, with the milk yields estimates of 240 to 260 kg/lactation (Padeanu, research station being located at an elevation of 280 m above 2001) and growth rates in kids as low as 94 g/day (Voia et al., sea level and a total annual precipitation of 737.2 mm, with a 2010). mean annual temperature of 12.9 °C. Temperatures express Although Romania holds around 10 % of the goat flocks seasonal patterns with summer daily means of 20.1 °C in July reared in the EU, with the industry representing an important and winter daily means of -0.8 °C in January (Table 1). sector of the agriculture at national level, research on organic The project herd consisted of 90 multiparous purebred goats production systems is lagging behind, compared to Carpatina does, managed under organic rearing conditions that from other states. Up-to-date, the importance of organic as stipulated by the Council Regulations of the European farming in Romania has remained limited, especially in the Comission (2092/1991/EEC and 1804/1999 EEC) on stan- animal production sectors (dairy, meat and eggs), with signi- dards of organic animal husbandry. Two breeding herds were ficant progress being made for crops and horticulture in the set-up, with half of the does (n = 45), randomly selected last five years. Given the high production potential (large sur- being mated with Carpatina purebred bucks, while the face of natural pastures, the increasing numbers of sheep second group of does were exposed to Boer bucks. Buck/doe and goats, great number of LFA’s, consolidated foreign ratio was roughly of 1:20, for two consecutive oestrous cycles markets), in the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Deve- (42 days), with the reproduction season starting in mid Sep- lopment (EAFRD) programs for Romania, the organic farming tember. Nutritional flushing was practiced for three weeks was set-out as a priority for local development, with several before the mating seasons, in addition, all animals had free measures and types of funding’s addressing investments in access to potable water and mineral blocks year around. Ani- the organic animal production sector and being available for mals were housed indoors during winter for a period of 120 the 2014 to 2020 period. Moreover, the Romanian goat days, on deep straw bedding, with a space allowance of breeders could take advantage of the EU developed 1.8 m2 and 0.5 m2 per doe and kid, respectively. Does M. Sauer, I. Padeanu, N. Dragomir, E. Ilisiu, G. Rahmann, W.-I. Sauer, S.-O. Voia, D. Gavojdian · Landbauforsch · Appl Agric Forestry Res · 1 2015 (65)59-64 61
received high-quality clovers and pastures hays ad libitum, The ORG pasture was fertilized in early-spring 2012 by direct with an additional 200 g of concentrates in late gestation and grazing with the animals, at a stoking rate of 1 goat/1.5 m2, during suckling period. All hays and concentrates were orga- kept for four consecutive nights. After the animals removal nically produced on farm. Creep feeding of kids was not from the pasture, minimum tillage works were done and the practiced, they were solely reliant on the dams milk produc- pasture was over-seeded using a mix of grasses and legumes tion. Kids were weaned at 60 days of age. having the following structure: Lolium perenne 40 % (8 kg/ha); Festuca pratensis 30 % (6 kg/ha); Festuca arundinacea 10 % (2 kg/ha); Lotus corniculatus 10 % (2 kg/ha); Trifolium repens Table 1 10 % (2 kg/ha). During the conversion period, the pasture was Experimental design and general management conditions used to produce hay, and not directly grazed by animals. Grass availability (DM/ha) was measured monthly using Location: 45°25‘N/22°13‘E Altitude of the site: 280 m twelve iron-fenced net boxes (1.5 × 1.5m, 1m height), Annual randomly placed on grazing area, according to the method 737.2 mm Mean annual temp.: 12.9 °C precipitation: described by Napolitano et al. (2011). Herbage was harves- Breeding ted at ground level from three 1 × 1m areas placed into 90 Carpatina does Buck/doe ratio: 1:20 herd: boxes. The total herbage mass was weighted and sub- Indoor sampled to evaluate dry matter and chemical composition 120 days Kids weaned at: 60 days housing: and to estimate the botanical composition. Pasture In 2014, both conventional and organic pastures were rotational grazing Kids /experiment: 80 management: fenced using net wire fencing of 150 cm height. With the dis- Kids genotype / 20 CA /20 tance between the CONV and ORG pastures being of 200 m, Kids /group: 40 (sex ratio 1♂:1♀) group: F BC 1 in order to avoid as much as possible differences in pasture yields caused by soil type and fertility. After weaning (April, 2014), kids were divided into two groups of 40 individuals each (20 Carpatina purebreds and
20 F1 Boer x Carpatina), balanced for body weights and sex 2.3 Data collection among groups and genotypes. Group I was managed under In Carpatina does the conception rate (%), litter size (%) and conventional conditions, on a cultivated pasture (control litter weight gain at 28 days of age (kg) was recorded. Con- group). Group II was managed under organic-pasture condi- ception rate was calculated as the ratio between the number tions (experimental group). Both groups were kept exclu- of does kidding relative to the total number of the does sively on pasture for a period of four months, with a gradual exposed to the buck. Litter size (prolificacy) was computed as transition from indoor housing to pasture of 10 days. Rota- the ratio between the number of kids obtained relative to tional fenced grazing was practiced, each of the two pastures the number of does kidding. Litter weight gain at 28 days of having 6 identical in size areas (1600 m2). Kids were provided age was calculated by subtracting the litter weight at birth on pasture with shelter and shade, and had non-restricted from the litter weight at 28 days. access to water and mineral blocks. Individual kid records were made by identifying the birth The research activities were performed in accordance type, ear-tag number, birth weight and date, dam and sire with the European Union’s Directive for animal experimenta- genotype, weight at 28, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days. Sur- tion (Directive 2010/63/EU). vival rates of kids from birth to weaning (60 days of age) was recorded. Body weight was monitored using the electronic Inscale 2.2 Pasture management Platform Scale EOE 150 K 100 XL equipped with an animal In order to evaluate the potential of producing organic kid weighing programme, in the morning at the same hour on meat in western Romania, under pasture-based extensive each day, in order to obtain the highest accurate data. system, a comparative study between two pasture types was Data were statistically using MiniTab14 software and implemented. One managed and fertilized conventionally differences between groups were analyzed by non-parametric (CONV), and one organic managed pasture (ORG), which was Mann–Whitney–Wilcoxon test. All decisions about the accep- subject to a conversion period of two years (2012 and 2013). tance or rejection of statistical hypothesis have been made at The CONV pasture was fertilized initially in two stages, the 0.05 level of significance. first in early spring 2012 with a dose of 100N P70K70, and secondly, after the first harvest with a dose of 50N . In 2013, fertilization was made by administrating N100 in early spring and N50 after 3 Results and discussion the first harvest. During both years, the pasture was used to produce bailled hay, and was not used for grazing. The Carpatina does on this project were at the upper end of the following plant species were identified within the pasture: range for fertility rates (estimates of 80 to 95 %) previously grass 59 % (Lolium perenne, Festuca pratensis and Festuca reported for meat goats (Malan, 2000; Rhone, 2005; Brow- arundinacea), legumes 2 % (Lotus corniculatus and Trifolium ning et al., 2011). Furthermore, the current study represents repens) and other species 39 %. the first report of fertility rates for Carpatina does (Table 2). M. Sauer, I. Padeanu, N. Dragomir, E. Ilisiu, G. Rahmann, W.-I. Sauer, S.-O. Voia, D. Gavojdian · Landbauforsch · Appl Agric
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Table 2 Survival rates of kids till the age of weaning was not affected Mean (± SEM) for does reproductive performance and kids (p ≥ 0.05) by sire’s genotype, although Carpatina kids outper- survival rates formed slightly the crossbreeds. This indicator could prove useful for Romanian farmers which plan to use Boer bucks for Conception rate crossbreeding with native breeds and populations, in order 92.20 ± 0.28 Litter size (%): 146.90 ± 0.57 (%): to improve growth rates and carcass quality of lambs. Birth weight CA Despite encouraging prospects, the application of inno- 3.67 ± 0.06a Birth weight F BC (kg): 4.24 ± 0.11b (kg): 1 vative pasture cropping systems is encountering difficulties CA weight at F BC weight at due to the lack of technical information and solutions regar- 8.07 ± 0.11a 1 10.10 ± 0.16b 28 d (kg): 28 d (kg): ding the correct management of organic pastures for the ADG in un-weaned ADG in un-weaned small ruminants sector (Ronchi and Nardone, 2003). 117.40 ± 0.01a 154.00 ± 0.01b CA (g) F BC (g) 1 During the third year of vegetation, at the end of the con- Survival rate CA 91.30 ± 0.37a Survival rate F1BC (%): 88.70 ± 0.40a version period, the organic managed pasture yield was of (%): 30.6 t/ha, compared to the 26.45 t/ha crop, estimated for the a,b Column means with different superscripts differ significantly at p ≤ 0.05; conventional managed pasture (Table 3). Overall, the in- ADG – average daily gain crease in production of 15.6 % for the organic pasture could be attributed to the legumes species incorporated in the Reproductive outputs is the production traits with the grea- initial over-seeding, and to the annual rain falls registered in test impact on profitability in commercial meat goat farms. 2014, of 900.8 mm, which are were with 30 % higher than the Litter size of the experimental flock was lower than pre- average annual rain falls for the region. vious estimates and reports by Duricic et al. (2012) for does managed semi-intensively and those of Rahmann (2009) for does reared under organic production systems, respectively. Table 3 However, the litter size of 146.9 % is within the limits for the Estimates on the organic and conventional pastures yields breed’s standard, of 130 to 160 % (Voia, 2011). (3rd year of vegetation) Boer-sired kids were heavier (p ≤ 0.01) at birth compared with those produced by Carpatina sires (4.24 vs. 3.67 kg). Production trait Conventional Organic
Birth weight of the F1 Boer x Carpatina kids was higher than Pastures yields (t/ha) 26.45 30.60 previous data reported by Duricic et al. (2012) for Boer pure- Dry matter (t/ha) 5.29 6.12 breds, the higher litter size of the Boer does (180 %) could Pastures crude protein production (kg/ha) 813.00 987.00 have resulted in individual lower weights at birth. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), (kg/ha) 22.00 65.00 Significant differences between the adult average body weights of the two breeds was a reason for concern at the Pastures carrying capacity (animal units) 1.89 2.18 beginning of the project. Given that Carpatina does weigh between 40 to 45 kg, while adult Boer bucks weight is of 110 The incorporation of legumes (Trifolium and Medicago spp.) to 120 kg. Although kids sired by the Boer bucks were into organic managed pastures, leads to an improvement of heavier, no dystocia or other related birth problems were both pasture yields and nitrogen fixation, as previously recorded during the kidding season. Worth mentioning that demonstrated by Caporali and Campiglia (2001). The organic the breeding heard was consisting exclusively out of multi- pasture has yielded a crude protein production superior with parous Carpatina does (3 to 4 parity). 21.4 % compared to the conventional managed pasture, ave- Overall, reproductive performance of the Carpatina does rage estimates being of 987 kg/ha and 813 kg/ha, respec- is not suitable for the meat production. For the breed to tively. become a potential maternal-breed to be used in future Higher protein content of a pasture has a series of bene- crossbreeding schemes with meat specialized bucks (e.g. fits, such as allows a higher stoking rate, has the potential to Boer, Kiko), intense selection for prolificacy and milk-ability is produce better quality hays, the palatability rises, and thus recommended. the selective grazing is reduced. Nitrogen fixation in soil has Genotype influenced significantly (p≤0.01) kids weight at significant implications for both the small ruminant industry
28 days of age, with F1 Boer x Carpatina crossbred kids out- as well for the environment protection. During the current performing the Carpatina purebreds. Although kids dams study, the biological nitrogen deposited in soil was of were of the same breed, and presumably had the same milk- 22 kg/ha for the conventional pasture, while for the organic ability, the higher birth weight of the crossbreeds might con- pasture, the nitrogen deposited in the soil was of 65 kg/ha, tributed to the higher growth rates during the first 28 days. resulting a three folded quantity of nitrogen deposited in the
Average daily gain of F1 Boer x Carpatina kids was signifi- soil per hectare. The higher pasture yield for the organic cantly (p ≤ 0.01) higher than their counterparts, the Carpa- pasture, compared to the conventional managed pasture, tina purebreds, with average values of 154.0 g/day and could be attributed to the following three aspects: 117.4 g/day, respectively. Results are in accordance with i) seeding and pasture plant structure, which for the organic those reported by Belay et al. (2014), on using Boer bucks as pasture had a initial legumes proportion of 20 %, terminal sires for improving kid growth rates. compared to the 2 % in the conventional pasture (being M. Sauer, I. Padeanu, N. Dragomir, E. Ilisiu, G. Rahmann, W.-I. Sauer, S.-O. Voia, D. Gavojdian · Landbauforsch · Appl Agric Forestry Res · 1 2015 (65)59-64 63
known that the white clover is self-seeding easily and The technical efficiency and viability of organic and conven- invasive towards grass species), with the organic pasture tional meat goat production were investigated (Table 5). Over- being in its 3rd year of vegetation, when most cultivated all, the production costs in the organic production system were pastures are reaching their production peak; greater, when compared with the conventional management ii) the nitrogen available in soil, which constrains significantly of the pasture. With the pasture seeding costs being plants growth and thus, pasture yields, with several studies higher with 40.6 %, and those of price/t of pasture of 25.8 % for outlining that the legumes nitrogen deposited in soil has the organic pasture, compared to the conventional system. a superior plant availability and absorption rates, com- Estimated production costs per kg of kid meat were pared to synthetic nitrogen used in the conventional higher by 12.6 % when rearing Carpatina purebreeds, and by
system; 35.3 % when F1BC crossbreeds were concerned. Altogether, iii) in addition, the higher levels of rain falls registered during higher production costs should reflect in the economic 2014 (+ 30 % than the average for the region), might have returns (EUR/kg of sold kid), in order for the farmers to adopt caused a significant higher growth rates of the plants, the organic production systems. This could be achieved favoring the cultivated species from the organic pasture. either throughout niche marketing of organic goat meat pro- Most-likely, all three factors mentioned above have con- ducts (e.g. development of PDO or PGI labelled food pro- curred to the unexpected results concerning the two ducts), or by governmental policies and introduction of sub- pastures yields. Giving the organic’s pasture higher yield, sidies schemes into the sector to aid its development. the carrying capacity (animal units) was higher with 15.3 %, compared to the conventional pasture. Under pasture conditions, the Carpatina kids had growth Table 5 rates of 100.7 g/day and 105.2 g/day, under conventional Technical efficiency of organic production of goat meat and organic systems, respectively (Table 4). Pasture type did not influenced (p > 0.05) growth rates in the purebred kids. Costs categories (in EUR) Conventional Organic
While for the F1Boer x Carpatina kids, the pasture type influ- Pasture seeding costs /ha 191.90 269.96 enced significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the growth rates, with average Production costs /t of pasture 6.97 8.77 values of 145.2 g/day and 177.3 g/day being recorded in the Annual pasture maintenance costs /ha 83.23 128.23 conventional and organic systems, respectively. Production costs /kg of meat CA 2.37 2.67 Production costs /kg of meat F1BC 1.16 1.57 Table 4 Data on growth rates performances and on kids Rahmann (2007) in his work concerning the economic returns in dairy and meat goat sectors, has shown that farm Trait Conventional Organic profitabilty differs to a great extent, with an average annual ADG on pasture in Carpatina kids (g) 100.7 ± 0.02a 105.2 ± 0.03b income of 163 EUR/doe raised for milk production, while the ADG on pasture in F1BC (g) 145.2 ± 0.02a 177.3 ± 0.03b returns for meat goats was of 36 EUR/doe. However, rearing goats for meat offers a set of advanta- Meat production estimates in CA kids 114 kg 149 kg (kg/ha) ges, when compared to dairy goats, such as: management in meat animals is less dependant on infrastucture and investi- Meat production estimates in F BC 1 163 kg 252 kg (kg/ha) tions; the labour costs are being significantly reduced; no need for inveting in miling parlors and milk coolonig tanks; the posibility of using transhumance for landscape manage- Based on both kids growth rates and pastures production ment; lower veterinary care and energy costs. yields, the potential of meat production for the two geno- types and two pasture types was estimated. The convention- al pasture from the current project had a potential of produc- 4 Conclusions tion of 114 kg/ha for Carpatina purebreds, and of 163 kg/ha for F1 Boer x Carpatina crossbreed kids. While for the organic Current results have proved to be encouraging regarding the pasture, it was estimated a production potential of 149 kg of potential of the Less Favoured Areas from Romania to produ- meat per ha while rearing Carpatina purebreeds, and of ce goat meat under organic rearing systems. Technical solu- 252 kg/ha for the Boer x Carpatina dual-breds. Current results tions identified, regarding pasture management might have are in accordace with reports of Mbuku et al. (2015), which applicability in current commercial farming practices, in found that throughout crossbreeding, the improvement of order to improve goat farming profitability, in the same time meat production rises with 18.2 kg per doe mated per year, tackling environmental issues. compared to using dairy purebreeds. Nutritional strategies in Introduction and use of the South African Boer meat spe- low cost and easy to apply in pasture based systems can cialized breed into crossbreeding schemes with local unim- improve the productive performance of goats and have the proved goat populations has lead to a significant increase of potential to lead to profitable and successful enterprises. both growth rates and kid meat production per hectare. M. Sauer, I. Padeanu, N. Dragomir, E. Ilisiu, G. Rahmann, W.-I. Sauer, S.-O. Voia, D. Gavojdian · Landbauforsch · Appl Agric
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Taking advantage of the Boer meat producing potential, the Ilisiu E, Daraban S, Radu R, Padeanu I, Ilisiu V-C, Pascal C, Rahmann G (2013) local low-input breeds high levels of adaptation and organic The Romanian Tsigai sheep breed, their potential and the challenges for research. Landbauforsch Appl Agric Forestry Res 63(2):161-170 resistance, and also of the heterosis effects. MADR (2014) Raport de activitate al agentiei nationale pentru ameliorare si However, both farmers and policy makers should be reproductie in zootehnie „Prof. Dr. G.K. Constantinescu” pentru anul 2014 aware and keep in mind both the unconsolidated markets for [online]. To be found at